I'm looking to buy a new mid-low priced video card. My X1600 lasted me a few years but AMD refuses to update it to good updated driver (Its old but I think NVidia at least gives still some support to older cards). So I'm looking for a new mid priced video card and I also prefer NVidia because they usually give out better and longer driver support than AMD (even if unofficial)

I rather spend less but have a video card that will last me thru the years. I play at 1024x786 so high resolutions are not a factor for me. I do not play games barely at all; TF2, the new Hitman game, PES, but besides that....nothing else

Some factors:

- I prefer a one sloted card as I think I cannot fit two slotted cards in my box
- VGA out (although I imagine that all DVI is compatible with a adapter from DVI to VGA)
- DirectX 11.1 support
- OpenGL 4.3 support
- Windows 8 support
- PCI-E (obvious but just in case )
- Low/Mid priced. Like I said I barely game at all and I play at a low resolution

I prefer NVidia as they usually have longer driver support than AMD. Also, VGA support. I imagine most have a adapter though. HDMI would be nice as it would be very easy to hook up to my TV but that just a plus

by 2 slot card they mean to say it takes up 2 pcie slots at the back of the case.. not on the motherboard.. just letting you know if your unaware of that?

1 slot for ventilation and one for the output ports like VGA.

anyway if you want to just play those titles and have no interest in high fps's or maybe fps gaming, anything gtx 550ti 560ti 650 660 is for you.. u can probably pick up the 550ti for alot less now and it should play all the games you mentioned on medium or low on that resolution.

if you want a AMD here is one 6850, this card is the best value for money i have heard and my friend uses it.. he plays all the latest games on 720p which is about the same resolution as of you and he has no lags or frame skips.

by 2 slot card they mean to say it takes up 2 pcie slots at the back of the case.. not on the motherboard.. just letting you know if your unaware of that?

1 slot for ventilation and one for the output ports like VGA.

Yes I am aware that it takes up two slots on the back of the case, not on the motherboard

anyway if you want to just play those titles and have no interest in high fps's or maybe fps gaming, anything gtx 550ti 560ti 650 660 is for you.. u can probably pick up the 550ti for alot less now and it should play all the games you mentioned on medium or low on that resolution.

if you want a AMD here is one 6850, this card is the best value for money i have heard and my friend uses it.. he plays all the latest games on 720p which is about the same resolution as of you and he has no lags or frame skips.

hope that helps.

Well I want to play those games but if something in the future comes out (Bioshock Infinte comes to mind) I want to be able to play it too. I have no problem either playing at medium-medium high. I mean if I buy a new card, I rather not have to play at low for 2012-mid 2013 games....I want it to last for a while at least

I bought the X1600 when it was around 200 as well and it lasted until now. Actually I can still play games fine, Its just I want to update it more so if it does not have any driver or future driver support.

Nvidia: 560ti, 660, 660ti
Ati: not so in the loop but a 7850, 7870 will do you also.

If your only gaming at 1024x768 I would go nvidia. I would try get a 660 or if you can afford it 660ti. I have a vanilla 660, it plays everything on high at 1080p right now. Pretty sure Bioshock infinite will run fine on any of the above cards.

The reason someone will ask for the rest of your system specs is an issue referred to as a bottleneck.

This issue occurs when specific components are less powerful than others. So let us say you buy this new card, but you have a lower end CPU. In that case then you will wind up with lower performance still.

So the question is asked to help make sure that a faster GPU will actually matter.

Make sense?

Also playing at 1024x768 does not make sense with newer systems. The reason being that you are often limited by the CPU at that resolution.

The reason someone will ask for the rest of your system specs is an issue referred to as a bottleneck.

This issue occurs when specific components are less powerful than others. So let us say you buy this new card, but you have a lower end CPU. In that case then you will wind up with lower performance still.

So the question is asked to help make sure that a faster GPU will actually matter.